Nevin Buconjic ’94, ’97, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., published his second small business book entitled Starting Your Own Business: An Entrepreneurs Guide for Starting and Growing a Small Business, in August 2018. Nevin is a serial entrepreneur and author, and also the manager of trade and investment for the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Chad Connelly ’97, East Lansing, is the captain of the East Lansing Police Department, where he has worked for 20 years.

Todd Fritch ’93, Bradenton, Fla., is the executive vice president and provost at the State College of Florida, Sarasota-Manatee.

Jason Pietrantonio ‘98, Kingsford, is the owner of Second Nature Landscaping LLC. After working for a landscaping company in Quinnesec for eight years, Jason started his own company in 2016. Second Nature Landscaping offers service in planting, designing patios, retaining walls, timber steps, waterfalls, outdoor fireplaces, barbecues, walkways, driveways and irrigations systems. In the offseason, Pietrantonio builds houses with his brother. Pietrantonio and his wife Bonnie have two children, 7-year-old Alayna and 6-year-old Parker.

Pete Stauber ‘90, Hermantown, Minn., won Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District seat. Pete was a star player on LSSU’s 1988 Championship hockey team. After completing his bachelors in criminal justice at LSSU he signed a multi-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings lost him to the Florida Panthers in the 1993 expansion draft. After playing in the minor leagues, he retired at the end of the 1992-93 season. Pete worked with the Duluth Police Department for 22 years before retiring in 2017 as lieutenant. He served on the Hermantown City Council for eight years before he decided to run for Congress. Pete and his wife Jodi live in Hermantown with their four children Levi, Luke, Isaac and Addilynn.

Ashleigh (Balon) Clark ’06, Jacksonville, Fla., earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Leo University in Tampa in 2017. As a student, Ashleigh was a member of Student Alumni Involved for Lake State (S.A.I.L.S, 2002-2006), resident assistant of Osborn Hall (2004-2005) and area director of Osborn Hall (2005-2006). She taught for 10 years in Hawaii and Florida and is now the assistant principal at Callahan Intermediate School in Florida. Ashleigh and her husband Nolan Clark have two beautiful daughters Elayna Mae – 6 years old and Caelyn Rae – 3 years old.

Aaron LaLone ’06, Wayland, has been with the Otsego Police Department for 11 years, and has been promoted to detective.

Christopher Millron ’06, Traverse City, was selected as one of the 40 under 40 in Traverse City for 2018. This is a list of the region’s most influential professionals under the age of 40. Chris received his undergraduate degree at Lake Superior State University in 2006 and then went on to receive his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Planning from Davenport University in 2013.

Ben Skupien ’04, Arlington, Va., recently concluded an 11 year technology consulting career, and has transitioned from Deloitte Consulting to the defense and aerospace industry. He recently accepted a senior engineer program manager position with the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), where he continues to lead several engineering teams as a civil servant, focused on integrating the two largest IT systems in the world.

Jessica Behmlander ’12, Freeland, graduated from LSSU with a bachelors in sociology-social services and an associate’s in social work. She went on to receive her associates in nursing at Delta Community College in Saginaw. Jessica has worked as a crisis counselor for children who have been victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. She currently works at Covenant Health Care in the Emergency Department as a registered nurse and department educator. She also works as a SANE nurse where she conducts medical forensic exams for sexual assault patients. Throughout her career, Jessica has worked with survivors of human trafficking and is currently educating health care providers and the community about human trafficking, the signs to look for and ways to offer help to victims.

Mary Callard ’17, Sault Ste. Marie, is an independant contractor, working as a personal trainer at Gym 906 and UP North Nutrition.

Jeremy Eitrem ’17, is a PC/network technician at War Memorial Hospital. He handles server and network design and implementation while also providing staff with workflow improvements and support of their endpoint devices.

Nicole Madalinski ’12, Bark River, recently graduated from Northern Michigan University’s doctorate of nursing practice Family Nurse Practitioner Program. She received her certificate through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Nicole is currently working as a family nurse practitioner at Cedar Hill Medical in Gladstone.

Cameron Penny ’14, Kalkaska, is the director of alumni relations at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. He married Renee Schlak ’14 on October 15, 2016. Renee is a conservation specialist with the Kalkaska Conservation District. In this role she works closely with land owners to manage forest and wildlife resources, assist in soil erosion control practices, coordinate the district’s outreach and education programs, and manage their website and social media channels. Check out some of what they do at www.kalkaskaconservation.org and Facebook. Prior to this position, Renee worked a summer season at The Nature Conservancy’s Kitty Todd Preserve in Swanton, Ohio treating invasive species and prescribed burn activities; then with Cardno, Inc in the Metro Detroit area doing more invasive species treatments and ecological restoration work. After a full season with Cardno, Renee worked with ECI Inc. completing vegetation surveys for electric utilities.

Kalie Tyree ‘14, St. Joseph, was appointed as an attorney magistrate for the 5th District Court in Berrien County.

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